Steam generator



y 24, 1951 L. P. HATFIELD 2,561,471

STEAM GENERATOR Filed May 25, 1947 Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,561,471 s p s V STEAM GENERATOR Lonn ie P. Hatfield, oklahomaouy, one;

Application May 23, 1947, Serial No. 149,971 2 Claims. (01. 122 -s1) This invention relates to a steam generator,

and more particularly to a steam generator wherein the water is adapted to be heated by contact with a heated fluid, such as mercury.

A primaryobject of this invention is the provision of an improved steam generator characterized by means for heating the water by contact witha pre-heated fluid, such as mercury, thus obviating any direct contact of heat against the boiler, and consequently precluding scale formation therewithin. I

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device which, due to the absence of direct contact withthe boiler, substantially precludes the danger of explosion of the boilerin ths event *low water condition exists therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a steam generator of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and utilize.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

The single figure is a diagrammatic sectional view of one form of steam generator embodying features of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at ID a furnace of any desired type, including a combustion chamber l I and a flue l2. Positioned adjacent the flue I2 is a water evaporation tank l3, provided with an inlet M from which a pipe extends to an outlet IB of a double-walled, tubular, water-preheating tank I! provided with an inlet for water IS. The tank I! is positioned substantially at the top of the flue l2.

The evaporation tank I3 is also provided with a steam outlet l9, from which a pipe extends to a. superheat tank 2| positioned beneath the water preheating tank ll in the flue l2, and provided with a plurality of interiorly positioned pipes 22 through which the steam passes, after being generated in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, for super-heating, and thence through an outlet 23 to any desired locality for further use.

The tank is provided with a conventional relief valve 24, as well as a water level indicator 25 also of conventional type.

Suitably positioned in the flue l2 beneath the cury tank 26.

steam. chamber 2| is a tubular tank 26, adapted to contain mercury. An outlet 21 is provided for the tank, which leads to a heating coil 28, from which a .pipe 29 leads to a point normally above the water level in tank It, and terminates in a head 30 provided with a plurality of radially disposed outlets 3 I. From the bottom of the tank a mercury return pipe 32 leads through a pump 33, andthencethrough a pipe 34 to an inlet 3 into the mercury tank 25. i

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. When the tank is filled withwater to the desired level and heat is applied to the heating coil 28, and the pump 33. started, heated mercury is passed through the pipe zfi, and the outlets 3i, preferably in the form of droplets, which pass through the water 35 in evaporation tank l3, imparting their heat thereto, and the cool mercury collects in a pool 3! at the bottom of the tank, from which it is returned through pipes 32 and 34 to the mer- The temperature of the mercury may be suitably controlled by any desired conventional thermostatic control, and it may be kept under any suitable pressure other than atmospheric, maintaining such pressure equal to that on the water 35. Steam generated after the water has reached the boiling point is passed through outlet pipe 20 and super-heater 22, to the outlet 23, and thence to any desired locality for further use. Meanwhile, water may be passed from the tank I! through the pipe l5 into tank 13 at a desired rate of speed in accordance with the rate of volatilization of the water in tank l3, any suitable automatic or manual control being provided for this purpose.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved generator which accomplishes all the objects of this in vention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: a

1. In a steam generator, a combustion chamber having an elongated flue extending upwardly therefrom for the passage of hot combustion gases therethrough, an evaporation tank adapted to contain a quantity of water and arranged in side by side spaced relation with respect to said transfer from said hot gases.

combustion chamber, said tank being provided with a water inlet and a steam outlet, a second tank positioned in said flue adjacent to and spaced from said combustion chamber for containing a supply of mercury and adapted to be heated by heat transfer of said combustion gases to a temperature sufiicient to effect conversion of the mercury into a dispersion of droplets, a distributing head disposed within said, evaporation tank above the water level and communicating with said second tank for discharging the droplets onto the water in said evaporation tank M to cause the conversion of the water in contact with said droplets into steam, a conduit'connecting the bottom of said evaporation tank with said second named tank for causing circulation of the mercury from one to the other, and a-third tank above the water level and communicating with said second tank for discharging the drop lets onto the water in said evaporation tank to cause the conversion of the water in contact with said droplets into steam, a conduit connecting the bottom of said evaporation tank with saidsecond named tank for causing circulation of the mercury from one to the other, athird tank positioned in said flue in superimposed relation with respect to said second 11 named tank and communicating with the steam outlet of said evapt ,oration tank for receiving the generated steam tank positioned in said flue in superimposed re- I lation with respect to said second named tank and communicating with the steam outlet of said evaporation tank for receiving the generated steam therein and superheating the latter by heat 2.-In asteam generator, a combustion chamber having an elongated flue extending upwardly therefrom for the passage of hot combustion gases therethrough, an evaporation tank adapted to contain a quantity of water and arranged in side by side spaced relation with respect to said combusion chamber, said tank being" provided with a water inlet and a steam outlet, a second tank positioned in said flue adjacent to and spaced from said combustion chamber for containing a supply of mercury and adapted to be heated by heat transfer of said combustion gases 35 to a temperature suflicient to effect conversion ,of the mercury into a dispersion of droplets,'a distributing head disposed within said evaporation therein and superheating the latter by heat transfer from said hot gases, and a fourth tank positioned in said flue in superimposed relation with respect to said third named tank and communicating with the water inlet of said evaporation tank for heating the water passing there through.

LONN IE P. HATFIELD.

- 1 REFERENCES crrnn I The following references are of record in the file of this patent: i H V UNITED "STATES PATENTS v Date I H 114,120 Austria Sept. 10,1929 

